Commuters line up as they wait to board an AC Transit bus on July 1, 2013 in Oakland. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Commuters line up as they wait to board an AC Transit bus on July 1, 2013 in Oakland. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

OAKLAND (KCBS) – Union leaders for Bay Area Rapid Transit workers said they would deliver a 72-hour strike notice at the end of the day if major progress isn’t made Thursday in contract talks.

Asked if a strike can still be averted, Bryant said, “It depends on what happens at the bargaining table today.”

Both sides were expected to continue talking even if the unions issue the strike notice. The 30-day contract extension that ended the July walkout by the ATU and Service Employees International Union Local 1021 expires Sunday night.

Bryant said tentative agreements had been reached on several smaller issues, but key issues were far from closed. The transit agency’s chief negotiator, Thomas Hawk, showed no optimism that a deal to avert another BART strike was close.

“Every day is another day. Just take it a day at a time,” he said.

“Hopefully we’re going to get this done. I mean, that’s certainly everybody’s objective.”

BART Talks Set To Resume As Strike Notice Deadline Looms

Both sides have been barred from discussing details of the negotiations publicly.

Talks Thursday were scheduled to resume at 12 p.m. BART unions have scheduled a 5 p.m. rally at at Frank Ogawa Plaza in downtown Oakland.

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Tim RyanTim Ryan graduated from CSU Chico with a Journalism degree and worked at KSRO Radio Santa Rosa and WCCO News/Talk CBS station in Minneapolis from 1982...More fromTim Ryan